Julia frowned and shot her daughter a playful glare. “Come on, I’m just your mother–what secrets could I possibly keep from you?”
But Briony still looked uneasy. “Mom, if there’s ever anything you want to tell me, promise you won’t just keep it to yourself, okay?”
Julia reached over and squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. And if there ever was something important, you’d be the very first to know, I promise.”
She smiled, her eyes softening. “Honestly, Bryn, the thing I’m most proud of in this life is having you as my daughter. I know I wasn’t able to give you everything you deserved, sending you to the countryside to live with your grandfather when you were just a little girl. But your grandpa raised you well, and you’ve grown up into someone wonderful.”
“Mom, please don’t say that.” Briony’s brow creased with concern. “You didn’t have a choice. Even though you had to send me away, you still came to visit me every month, sneaking around behind the Kensingtons‘ backs. I know you always cared about me.”
Julia reached up to gently smooth Briony’s hair. “All I want is for you to be happy, Bryn. No matter what you decide to do, I’ll always be here, supporting you.”
Briony glanced at her mother, an unshakable sense of unease lingering in her chest.
“Don’t worry about me, Mom.” She reached up, clasping Julia’s hand tightly in hers as her mother stroked her cheek.
“My studio’s doing better and better. I’m going to make a lot of money–after New Year’s, I’m thinking about buying a house on the river. The yard is huge there, and you love gardening, right? You could fill the whole place with flowers, and we could build a little fish pond, maybe get some fish… If you want, we could even get a dog or a cat. Whatever you like, I’ll make it happen for you!”
Julia listened to her daughter’s words, and she could almost see that peaceful, beautiful future unfolding before them.
She looked at Briony’s hopeful expression, not wanting to dampen her dreams. So she just nodded, smiling warmly. “You’re such a good girl, Bryn. Just hearing you talk about it makes me excited.”
For a moment, Briony simply watched her mother. The uneasy feeling still lingered, stronger now without any clear reason.
Almost on instinct, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around her mother, resting her cheek on Julia’s shoulder. “Mom, just hold me, would you?”
Julia hesitated for a second, then hugged her back, her tone gently teasing. “What’s gotten into you? Aren’t you a little old for cuddles?”
“I’ll be your child even when I’m eighty!” Briony replied, her voice suddenly playful. “You have to live to a hundred–so even when I’m old, I’ll still have a mom to spoil me!”
Julia glanced at the television, catching their reflection–mother and daughter, arms wrapped around each
other.
A laugh bubbled up as she squeezed Briony tighter. “Alright, for you, I’ll do my best to make it to a hundred.”
Hearing that, the anxiety in Briony’s heart started to ebb away. She closed her eyes in contentment. good to have you, Mom.”
SO
Julia stroked her hair. “One day, when you have a little one of your own, you’ll understand. It might seem like children depend on their mothers, but really, it’s a mother who draws endless strength from her child. The love a child gives is the most healing, comforting thing in the world.”
1/2
14:22
Chapter 73
Briony didn’t reply. She was simply too tired, and before she knew it, she’d drifted off to sleep in her mother’s
arms.
Julia looked down, gently brushing a stray hair from Briony’s cheek. All the worry she’d tried to hide showed openly in her eyes. “Silly girl… you’ve lost weight..”
The next morning, just four days before New Year’s Eve.
Briony got up early to drive Julia back to the hospital. She stayed with her through the daily check–up, only relaxing once the doctor confirmed everything looked fine.
After the doctors and nurses finished their rounds and left the room, Gina arrived right on time.
Briony stood and grabbed her bag. “Mom, I’ve got some work to catch up on today, so I’ll head out now.” “Alright. Don’t overwork yourself, and remember–no matter how busy you are, you need to eat three meals a day!”
“I know, I know.” Briony smiled, then turned to Gina. “I might not make it back tonight, Gina, so I’m counting on you to look after my mom.”
